A FIRST GRADER DECIDED SHE DIDN'T WANT GIFTS FOR HER BIRTHDAY -- INSTEAD SHE WANTED TO HELP THE HOMELESS. SHE DONATED SEVERAL HUNDRED CANNED GOODS. 16 WAPT'S BEN BOWMAN HAS THE STORY. SHE JUST TURNED SEVEN... NATS POP BUT MADELYN'S MOM SAYS THE FIRST GRADER IS ALREADY THINKING MORE ABOUT HER COMMUNITY THAN HERSELF.. WE WERE RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND WE SAW PEOPLE UNDER BRIDGES. WHAT MADELYN SAW ALMOST BROUGHT HER TO TEARS. I GET SAD. I JUST SAID THAT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I TOLD MY MOM WHAT ARE THOSE PEOPLE DOING UNDER THE BRIDGES? AND I TOLD HER THAT THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE HOMES TO GO TO. THAT'S WHEN MADELYN DECIDED TO ACT... SO I TOLD MY MOM, INSTEAD OF GIFTS, I WANT PEOPLE TO BRING CANNED GOODS TO GATEWAY. SHE GOT HER PARENTS, CLASSMATES AND THE ENTIRE GEORGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO DONATE MORE THAN 300 CANNED GOODS TO THE HOMELESS. MADELYN SAID THE IDEA CAME TO HER BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO BE THE CHANGE NEEDED IN HER COMMUNITY. NATS DANCING MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING SAW WHAT MADELYN DID AND SURPRISED HER WITH A VISIT FROM HER FAVORITE CHARACTER... NATS IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE TYPE OF TRAITS THAT SHE WILL REAP THE BENEFITS LATER IN LIFE... BEN: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? MADELYN: I WANT TO BE A DENTIST BECAUSE THEY'RE SMART AND THEY HELP PEOPLE. MADELYN COLLINS-- SHOWS US THAT YOU CAN BE A LITTLE GIRL AND STILL DO BIG THINGS. NATS IN JACKSON, NATS KIDS SCREAMING BEN BOWMAN 16 WAPT NEWS.